Moments
A moving play exploring how news is broken when a baby is born with additional needs
Availability:
Moments is currently available for short tours and occasional one-off events. Please contact info@womenandtheatre.co.uk for more information.
Introduction
From the day Tam is born Rita’s knows that there is something wrong. No one tells her anything, only that her son will never be Prime Minister…
On the eve of her son Tam’s 10th birthday, Rita thinks back to moments from his birth and childhood. Through flashbacks we see Rita after Tam’s birth when she knows something is wrong but finds herself wandering around looking for a nurse in a whirlwind of emotions. No one will tell her anything and she is baffled by medical jargon.
The play follows Rita and her family as they negotiate their way around the medical system dealing with the barrage of questions from health visitors and doctors and test after test. There are moments when Rita feels like she can’t go on but she keeps fighting for Tam to get the best deal she can.
Moments is of interest to everyone but particularly suitable for health professionals and parents. It has been performed at professional training events and conferences. As with all our health promotion pieces, the play is accompanied by a post-show discussion, allowing audiences to engage with the issues raised and receive more information.
History
Moments was originally commissioned by West Midlands Portage Service and the Parent Group. It was created from the experiences of parents of children with disabilities and explores how parents, health professional and society communicate the news of their children’s condition. The play was researched and produced by Women & Theatre in active partnership with the Parent’s Group and Portage. The play aims to help facilitate communication between parents and professionals.
Notes
Researched with Portage in Birmingham and parents, Moments looks at how news is broken when a baby is born with additional needs. Moments loom up for Rita as she replays in her head key incidents in her son Tam`s life. Evocative music and dream sequences create an engrossing and very affecting performance. The audience is sat in the round and the three performers play a variety of roles from Mother in laws to consultants.
Janice Connolly, W&T Artistic Director
Outcome
“You were wonderful. It was a really moving experience”
Suzanne Mehta, direct Services Officer, RNIB
“The play was superbly performed by Women & Theatre but the true power of the play lay in the fact that it drew directly upon experiences of the parents”
Birmingham Early Years Development
Production Credits
Written & researched by: Janice Connolly
Downloads
Moments information & booking guidelines
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